scholarly journals Modeling Dragons: Using linked mechanistic physiological and microclimate models to explore environmental, physiological, and morphological constraints on the early evolution of dinosaurs

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Lovelace ◽  
Scott A. Hartman ◽  
Paul D. Mathewson ◽  
Benjamin J. Linzmeier ◽  
Warren P. Porter
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
Resting Metabolic Rate ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Sensitivity Testing ◽  
Metabolic Chamber ◽  
Chinle Formation ◽  
Modeling Software ◽  
Temperature Ranges ◽  
Metabolic Variables ◽  
Hot Environments

AbstractWe employed the widely-tested biophysiological modeling software, Niche Mapper™ to investigate the metabolic function of Late Triassic dinosaurs Plateosaurus and Coelophysis during global greenhouse conditions. We tested them under a variety of assumptions about resting metabolic rate, evaluated within six microclimate models that bound paleoenvironmental conditions at 12° N paleolatitude, as determined by sedimentological and isotopic proxies for climate within the Chinle Formation of the southwestern United States. Sensitivity testing of metabolic variables and simulated “metabolic chamber” analyses support elevated “ratite-like” metabolic rates and intermediate “monotreme-like” core temperature ranges in these species of early saurischian dinosaur. Our results suggest small theropods may have needed partial to full epidermal insulation in temperate environments, while fully grown prosauropods would have likely been heat stressed in open, hot environments and should have been restricted to cooler microclimates such as dense forests (under any vegitative cover) or those seen at higher latitudes and elevations. This is in agreement with the Late Triassic fossil record and may have contributed to the latitudinal gap in the Triassic prosauropod record.

scholarly journals Redescription ofCalyptosuchus(Stagonolepis)wellesi(Archosauria: Pseudosuchia: Aetosauria) from the Late Triassic of the Southwestern United States with a discussion of genera in vertebrate paleontology

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4291 ◽  
Author(s):  
William G. Parker
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Western United States ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Vertebrate Paleontology ◽  
Unique Combination ◽  
Epistemological Problem ◽  
Chinle Formation

Calyptosuchus wellesiis a medium-sized desmatosuchian aetosaur common in Adamanian (early to middle Norian) age rocks from the Chinle Formation and Dockum Group of the Western United States. Known chiefly from osteoderms, this taxon has never been fully described and non-osteoderm material assigned toCalyptosuchushas been done so based on questionable criteria. Mapping of aetosaurian elements from thePlaceriasQuarry allows for the recognition of associated material providing support for referrals of non-osteoderm material. Furthermore, another previously undescribed specimen from the Chinle Formation of Arizona provides more details about this taxon. PresentlyCalyptosuchuslacks discrete autapomorphies, but can be distinguished from other aetosaurs based on a unique combination of characters supported by a phylogenetic analysis.Calyptosuchusis one of the most common aetosaurians in the Western United States and an index taxon of the early Adamanian biozone. The nameCalyptosuchusis retained and encouraged as the applicable genus name for the specieswellesirather than the often usedStagonolepisbecause assignments of taxa to multi-species genus names are problematic and in this case provides a proposed taxonomic relationship that cannot be unambiguously supported, even by phylogenetic analyses. Because of the inherent limitations of the fossil record, referral of specimens and species to species and genera respectively is an epistemological problem in vertebrate paleontology.

Upper Triassic lithostratigraphy, depositional systems, and vertebrate paleontology across southern Utah

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 99-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey W. Martz ◽  
James I. Kirkland ◽  
Andrew R.C. Milner ◽  
William G. Parker ◽  
Vincent L. Santucci
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Zion National Park ◽  
Chinle Formation ◽  
Depositional Systems ◽  
Wingate Sandstone ◽  
San Rafael ◽  
San Rafael Swell ◽  
Petrified Forest ◽  
Moenave Formation

The Chinle Formation and the lower part of the overlying Wingate Sandstone and Moenave Formation were deposited in fluvial, lacustrine, paludal, and eolian environments during the Norian and Rhaetian stages of the Late Triassic (~230 to 201.3 Ma), during which time the climate shifted from subtropical to increasingly arid. In southern Utah, the Shinarump Member was largely confined to pre-Chinle paleovalleys and usually overprinted by mottled strata. From southeastern to southwestern Utah, the lower members of the Chinle Formation (Cameron Member and correlative Monitor Butte Member) thicken dramatically whereas the upper members of the Chinle Formation (the Moss Back, Petrified Forest, Owl Rock, and Church Rock Members) become erosionally truncated; south of Moab, the Kane Springs beds are laterally correlative with the Owl Rock Member and uppermost Petrified Forest Member. Prior to the erosional truncation of the upper members, the Chinle Formation was probably thickest in a southeast to northwest trend between Petrified Forest National Park and the Zion National Park, and thinned to the northeast due to the lower Chinle Formation lensing out against the flanks of the Ancestral Rocky Mountains, where the thickness of the Chinle is largely controlled by syndepositional salt tectonism. The Gartra and Stanaker Members of the Ankareh Formation are poorly understood Chinle Formation correlatives north of the San Rafael Swell. Osteichthyan fish, metoposaurid temnospondyls, phytosaurids, and crocodylomorphs are known throughout the Chinle Formation, although most remains are fragmentary. In the Cameron and Monitor Butte Members, metoposaurids are abundant and non-pseudopalatine phytosaurs are known, as is excellent material of the paracrocodylomorph Poposaurus; fragmentary specimens of the aetosaurs Calyptosuchus, Desmatosuchus, and indeterminate paratypothoracisins were probably also recovered from these beds. Osteichthyans, pseudopalatine phytosaurs, and the aetosaur Typothorax are especially abundant in the Kane Springs beds and Church Rock Member of Lisbon Valley, and Typothorax is also known from the Petrified Forest Member in Capitol Reef National Park. Procolophonids, doswelliids, and dinosaurs are known but extremely rare in the Chinle Formation of Utah. Body fossils and tracks of osteichthyans, therapsids, crocodylomorphs, and theropods are well known from the lowermost Wingate Sandstone and Moenave Formation, especially from the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm.

The nasal cavity of two traversodontid cynodonts (Eucynodontia, Gomphodontia) from the Upper Triassic of Brazil

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Arymathéia Santos Franco ◽  
Rodrigo Temp Müller ◽  
Agustín G. Martinelli ◽  
Carolina A. Hoffmann ◽  
Leonardo Kerber
Keyword(s):  
Nasal Cavity ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Nasal Septum ◽  
Internal Surface ◽  
Nasolacrimal Duct ◽  
Upper Triassic ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Dorsal Region ◽  
Left And Right

Abstract Traversodontidae is a group of Triassic herbivorous/omnivorous cynodonts that represents the most diversified lineage within Cynognathia. In southern Brazil, a rich fossil record of late Middle/mid-Late Triassic cynodonts has been documented, with Exaeretodon riograndensis Abdala, Barberena, and Dornelles, 2002 and Siriusgnathus niemeyerorum Pavanatto et al., 2018 representing two abundant and well-documented traversodontids. The present study provides a comparative analysis of the morphology of the nasal cavity, nasal recesses, nasolacrimal duct, and maxillary canals of both species using computed tomography, highlighting the changes that occurred in parallel to the origin of mammaliaforms. Our results show that there were no ossified turbinals or a cribriform plate delimiting the posterior end of the nasal cavity, suggesting these structures were probably cartilaginous as in nonmammaliaform cynodonts. Both species show lateral ridges on the internal surface of the roof of the nasal cavity, but the median ridge for the attachment of a nasal septum is absent. Exaeretodon riograndensis and S. niemeyerorum show recesses on the dorsal region of the nasal cavity, which increase the volume of the nasal cavity, potentially enhancing the olfactory chamber and contributing to the sense of smell. On the lateral sides of the nasal cavity, the analyzed taxa show a well-developed maxillary recess. Although E. riograndensis and S. niemeyerorum have roughly similar nasal cavities, in the former taxon, the space between the left and right dorsal recesses of the nasal cavity is uniform along its entire extension, whereas this space narrows posteriorly in S. niemeyerorum. Finally, the nasolacrimal duct of S. niemeyerorum is more inclined anteroposteriorly than in E. riograndensis.

scholarly journals Metabolic Equivalents of Selected Sedentary and Physical Activities in Chinese Youth

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (s1) ◽  
pp. S48-S52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Gao ◽  
Haichun Sun ◽  
Jie Zhuang ◽  
Jian Zhang ◽  
Lynda Ransdell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Computer Games ◽  
Resting Metabolic Rate ◽  
Physical Activities ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Chinese Youth ◽  
Metabolic Chamber ◽  
Metabolic Equivalents ◽  
Watching Tv ◽  
Jump Rope

Background:This study determined the metabolic equivalents (METs) of several activities typically performed by Chinese youth.Methods:Thirty youth (12 years) performed 7 activities that reflected their daily activities while Energy Expenditure (EE) was measured in a metabolic chamber.Results:METs were calculated as activity EE divided by participant’s measured resting metabolic rate. A MET value ranging from 0.8 to 1.2 was obtained for sleeping, watching TV, playing computer games, reading and doing homework. Performing radio gymnastics had a MET value of 2.9. Jumping rope at low effort required 3.1 METs. Except for watching TV, METs for other activities in this study were lower than Youth Compendium values.Conclusions:The results provide empirical evidence for more accurately assessing EE of activities commonly performed by Chinese youth. This is the first study to determine METs for radio gymnastics and jump rope in Chinese youth.

scholarly journals The first occurrence of the enigmatic archosaur Crosbysaurus (Heckert 2004) from the Chinle Formation of Southern Utah

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J Gay ◽  
Isabella St. Aude
Keyword(s):  
New Mexico ◽  
Close Association ◽  
First Record ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Type Locality ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Southern Area ◽  
Chinle Formation ◽  
First Occurrence ◽  
Unique Compound

Originally identified as an ornithisichian dinosaur, Crosbysaurus has been found in New Mexico, Arizona, and the type locality in Texas. The genus has been reassessed by other workers in light of revelations about the postcrania of another putative Triassic ornithischian, Revueltosaurus. The understanding of Triassic dental faunas has become more complicated by the extreme convergence between pseudosuchian archosaurus and ornithichian dinosaur dental morphologies. We report here on a new specimen of Crosbysaurus from the Petrified Forest Member of the Chinle Formation at Comb Ridge in southeastern Utah. This new specimen is assigned to Crosbysaurus on the basis of the unique compound posterior denticles, mediolateral width, and curvature. While this specimen, MNA V10666, does not help resolve the affinities of Crosbysaurus it does represent an approximately 250 kilometer extension of the geographic range of this taxon. This is the first record of this taxon in Utah and as such it represents the northernmost known record of Crosbysaurus. This indicates that Crosbysaurus was not limited to the southern area of Chinle/Dockum deposition but instead was widespread across the paleoriver systems of the Late Triassic in western Pangea. The specimen we report on here was found in close association with a typical Late Triassic Chinle fauna, including phytosaurs, metoposaurs, and dinosauromorphs.

scholarly journals An unusual archosauriform tooth increases known tetrapod diversity in the lower Chinle Formation (Late Triassic) of southeastern Utah

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andres Lopez ◽  
Isabella St. Aude ◽  
David Alderete ◽  
David Alvarez ◽  
Hannah Aultman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Late Triassic ◽  
Chinle Formation ◽  
Triassic Period ◽  
Using Data

An unusual tetrapod tooth was discovered in the Late Triassic Chinle Formation of southeastern Utah. The tooth was originally thought to belong to Revueltosaurus but further investigations have rejected that hypothesis. In this paper we compare MNA V10668 to other known fossil teeth found in the Chinle Formation and identify the least inclusive clade it may belongs to. Using data found in other publications and pictures of other teeth, we compare this specimen to other Triassic dental taxa. MNA V10668 shares some similarities with Crosbysaurus, Tecovasaurus, and several other named taxa but possesses unique characteristics not found in other diapsid teeth. We conclude that it is most likely an archosauromorph and probably an archosauriform. This increases the known diversity of tetrapods from the Chinle Formation and represents the first tooth morphotype completely unique to Utah in the Late Triassic Period.

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